Poetry

C.R. McArthur: Watching Billy

C.R. McArthur

Watching Billy after reading “Taking Off Emily Dickinson’s Clothes” by Billy Collins It’s a little strange watching Billy Collins undressing Emily Dickinson— but I guess there’s a bit of voyeur in us all. I have to be careful though— I’m in a closet in an old New England house and these wooden floorboards are creaky. To be honest, I always thought Emily would be a little cool, a bit of an “iceberg”, so I’m surprised Billy’s got this far— Go Billy! Billy was right though— those whalebone corsets would test anyone’s patience! Still, Bill, eyes…